A source in the center said the five were walked out of the Community Mental Health Center's Central Avenue building on Monday.

Reached at his Broad Street office, Ford declined comment.

"As information has begun to emerge, DMHAS immediately made the necessary referrals to other state agencies, including the Auditors of Public Accounts and the State Ethics Commission," said Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services spokeswoman Mary Kate Mason. "Allegations of violations of these standards are taken very seriously and result in a thorough administrative investigation of any issues. The investigation would determine whether violations occurred and would make recommendations regarding any possible disciplinary actions."

Mason would not disclose specific details of the allegations because of the ongoing investigation.

Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health is a state-operated mental health facility with a 40-bed inpatient facility on Central Avenue and an outpatient center on Middle Street.